UXL Graphic Novelists

Grade 6 Up—Following the recent boom in the graphic-novel industry, and the growing acceptance of the genre in schools, this excellent work is the next logical step in reference publishing. Focusing on 75 authors and artists, it provides a solid resource for research, emphasizing influential masters of the field and those who create graphic novels primarily for youth. While not comprehensive, the essays feature a variety of creators, including a number of popular manga artists. Most include a photograph, biographical information, a sidebar listing the subject's best-known works, and a short bibliography of books, periodicals, and Web sites. Entries are written in a straightforward, lively voice that students will enjoy for both research and personal reading. The work downplays the adult materials by individual creators and is clear when materials mentioned are controversial. Also included are a short history of graphic novels, an essay on manga, and an annotated list of graphic-novel publishers.